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Culture and Recovery

Michael RunningwolfRecovery Opportunity Center

Phoenix, Arizona

©Recovery Opportunity Center/Recovery Innovations

Culture and recovery Who are the First Nations? What do we know about the culture of the first

inations?


The terms American Indians, Native Americans, and First Nations refer Americans, and First Nations refer to the descendants of indigenous people who inhabited the North people who inhabited the North American continent for centuries b f th i l f E before the arrival of European settlers.


The First nations are made up of many different native American many different native American nations with different languages, customs religions rituals family customs, religions, rituals, family

and government structures.


Some examples of the First Nations:Sioux (Oglala, Brule, Lakota, Yankton) ComancheApacheCherokee Seneca Chinook Inuit

Id i Identity ©Recovery Opportunity Center/Recovery Innovations

American Indian boarding schools were boarding schools established in the United States during the schools established in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to educate Native American children and youths according to Euro‐American standards.


Children were usually immersed in EuropeanChildren were usually immersed in European‐American culture through appearance changes with haircuts, were forbidden to speak their , pnative languages, and traditional names were replaced by new European‐American names. AIM


“At one time in our tribe the Elders guided us and answered our questions. They made sure that we remembered and kept our traditions such as remembered and kept our traditions such as ceremonies and language alive. But because of the boarding schools, many of our elders no longer have g , y gthe information to pass on and feel like they have lost their purpose.”

PMGil Ri I di C i Gila River Indian Community


There are an estimated 550‐plus recognized Native American tribes in the United States.


There are about 310 Reservations in the United States, meaning not all of the country's 550‐plus recognized tribes have a reservation some tribes recognized tribes have a reservation—some tribes have more than one reservation, some share reservations, while others have none.,


According to the 2004 Census, the most prominent American Indian groups were the southeast Cherokee (with 331 491) the southwest southeast Cherokee (with 331,491), the southwest Navajo (with 230,401), the Midwestern Chippewa (with 92,041) and the southwest Pueblo (69,203). ( 9 , 4 ) ( 9, 3)The largest tribal group in Alaska is the Eskimo, with 35,951 people (Census 2004).

What do we know about reservations and Indian communities? communities?


The quality of life on some reservations is comparable to that in the developing world, with issues of infant mortality life expectancy issues of infant mortality, life expectancy, malnutrition,poverty, and alcohol and drug abuse.


The two poorest counties in the United States are Buffalo County, South Dakota, home of the Lower Brule Indian Reservation and Shannon County Brule Indian Reservation, and Shannon County, South Dakota, home of the Pine Ridge Reservation.


In contrast, some reservations and communities have been able to promote economic growth and stability within their nationwithin their nation.


Native Americans appear to be at higher risk for mental illness than other cultural groups in the United StatesStates.

They have a disproportionate burden of mental health and substance abuse problems including high suicide and substance abuse problems including high suicide rates, and alcohol and mental health disorders (Nelson et al, 1992; Caldwell et al., 2005; Johnson & Cameron,

)2001).


Contemporary thinking correlates mental illness as a reaction to the history of forced oppression and trauma faced by Native Americans following the trauma faced by Native Americans following the arrival of European settlers.

The cries of westward ho and manifest destiny in The cries of westward ho and manifest destiny in American history brought warfare and new strains of physical disease to many tribes, and decimated their populations.


The trauma suffered by generations of Native Americans has contemporary effects in both the community as well as the individual consciousness community as well as the individual consciousness.

Some literature points to a developmental history of psychological distress that has resulted from genocide psychological distress that has resulted from genocide, ethnic cleansing, and forced acculturation; examples of which can still be found in contemporary US society.


Suicide is the second‐leading cause of death among AI/AN people age 10 to 34 (CultureCard, 2009).A il bl id h l ill d Available evidence suggests that mental illness, and self‐destructive behavior affects approximately 21% of the total AI/AN population costing an estimated $1 07 the total AI/AN population, costing an estimated $1.07 billion and incalculable human suffering (Duran et. al, 2004).

First leading cause of death is heart disease.


Major problems for Native Americans include chronic alcoholism (Brod, 1975), binge drinking (Champagne, 1999) and heavier drinking and substance abuse 1999), and heavier drinking and substance abuse among adolescents compared to other ethnic groups. (Barnes & Welte, 1986; Schinke et al., 1988). ( , 9 ; , 9 )


A study of three large Native American families found 70% of their members had a lifetime diagnosis of alcoholism; another study noted adolescents were at alcoholism; another study noted adolescents were at high risk (Champagne, 1999). A high proportion of battered Native American women have shown increased stress anxiety and depression (Norton & increased stress, anxiety and depression (Norton & Manson, 1995, online 2005), pathological gambling (Elia & Jacobs, 1993), spousal abuse, fights, and crime. S i id l i h U i d S Suicide rates among males in the United States are highest for AI/AN (SAMHSA, 2002). They are also higher among AI/AN adolescents than other ethnic g ggroups (Manson, 1982).


Cultural Views on Mental IllnessWhat might be some cultural views of mental illness within the First Nations?

The traditionalist and Non‐Traditionalist.


Cultural Views

(a)various AIAN people, mental illness is viewed as: (b) f f l i (b) a form of supernatural possession;

(c) an imbalance and disharmony with the inner and outer natural forces in the world; outer natural forces in the world;

(d) the expression of a special gift

(Thompson et al., 1993).


An Elders view.“Many of the people suffer from alcoholism and Mental Illness because they don’t know how to live with unemployment, loss of a culture, depression, poverty. unemployment, loss of a culture, depression, poverty. In this culture they can’t be a warrior and protect and provide for their people like they could in the old days. Maybe these people are actually the last of the Maybe these people are actually the last of the warriors, maybe this is their way of fighting back and not becoming like the Wasichus.”

R. MElder, Rosebud ReservationS th D k tSouth Dakota


What are the Nations doing? Insist that Mental Health professionals understand culture.

Hire tribal members to work at agencies hospitals and Hire tribal members to work at agencies, hospitals and organizations.

Train and hire Peer Support Specialist Inviting Elders to come into hospitals, agencies, organizations, jails, prisons.

I l di f il Including family Focusing funds on programs. CIT CIT


Thank you!Thank you!


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